Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1121Oct 11, 2012 5:26 pm Jen - It was my husband that wanted to make sure the edges were mitred, so not sure what they'd do otherwise? Best to just get it noted perhaps. They didn't ask about timber grain, ours runs vertically. We have the water plumbed to the fridge, but we're not upgrading our fridge just yet, I'm looking forward to having that one day. Built the Seaview 36 with Rawson Homes - Read about it on my blog http://lamaisondemorgan.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1122Oct 11, 2012 6:14 pm Hi Everyone! Smorgzzzzz 90% Paid that's exciting! And the upgrades sound cool,too! Belle 'n Dave-Yeah, Julie is great with complimentary stuff. Overall Rawson do things very well it seems, even with a few delays. We had a call today to say our CSO has changed from Simone to Christine. Any comments? Has anyone dealt with her? She sounded nice on the phone... I have updated our Blog, so feel free to have a browse. We signed off on all of our internal upgrades and the kicthen design today. Yeah! Progress. Next Stop-Electrical. Does anyone want to PM me with some pricing details for Single and Double Power Points/Lightpoints, dare I say Benham Staircase lights and Outdoor Facade Lights?? hahaha still playing Lotto and working 24 hours to pay for it all-just kidding, but I cannot wait to have the final figures for everything. So far we're right on budget. But that can change any minute. lol http://buildingwithrawson.blogspot.com.au/ Building The Benham 29 in The Ponds With Rawson Homes http://buildingwithrawson.blogspot.com.au/ Site Start 13/2/13 Handover 7/8/13 Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1123Oct 11, 2012 6:58 pm Duesseldorf - when you book the electrical appointment they send you out the price list. Ours should be waiting for us when we get home. I like your 3D drawings of the kitchen. We have changed the kitchen quite a bit, but they never sent us any drawings of it, except those on the amended plans. Smorgzz I should send an email to Maree and Tracey requesting that they are mitred. Spoke with our tree man today. Meeting him out on the block on Sunday to go through all the trees that need removing plus the gardens that need scraping out. We are all good for knocking trees down next week. That is one of the things I have been looking forward to for ages. Modified Fernside 38 Rawson Homes Blog: http://www.thehousethatmatandjenbuilt.blogspot.com Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=60501 Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1124Oct 11, 2012 7:06 pm Jen - I think Julie is the best one to amend it. Built the Seaview 36 with Rawson Homes - Read about it on my blog http://lamaisondemorgan.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1125Oct 11, 2012 7:07 pm Thanks everyone, I think I understand how it all works now. Just waiting for our stair quote and kitchen plans to come back so we can sign off our internal variations. Smorgzzz it must be exciting to have 90% paid, does that mean you are almost 90% finished?! It seems to go so quickly. Belle n dave we had our plans approved by the GF design board today so now they can go to council, yay Oh... what are mitred edges? We are getting a waterfall on our island bench if it makes a difference? Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1126Oct 11, 2012 7:17 pm Smorgzzz we didn't have Julie for our internals, we had Tracey, I will send her an email. Duesseldorf - we had Simone and then we were told that Simone was no longer a CSO and now we have Maree. Simone is pregnant and probably not having an easy pregnancy, so she is probably reducing the work load Modified Fernside 38 Rawson Homes Blog: http://www.thehousethatmatandjenbuilt.blogspot.com Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=60501 Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1127Oct 11, 2012 7:20 pm Jo - I'd like to think it's 90% finished, we've still got the bathrooms being tiled at the moment, all the floors to be tiled, upstairs to be carpeted (and downstairs lounge/theatre), painted, fit out carpenter has some skirting and trims to do, gyprock in some spots since they haven't been back since the stairs went in, air conditioning install, fit off of handles, taps, toilets, showerheads, garage door, front door, electrical fit out, insulation in the roof to be spread, laundry tub, baths installed, external window trims, bulkhead at the entry needs altering and then the the hand over items like air conditioning outdoor unit, hotwater unit and oven/range hood. And then anything we find at PCI that needs fixing. Jen - Just let Tracey know. She'll be able to add it to the list. Built the Seaview 36 with Rawson Homes - Read about it on my blog http://lamaisondemorgan.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1129Oct 11, 2012 7:53 pm Starlite - we received our electrical bill last week - Handover was 17th August. It was dated from when the electrical metre was installed and read. for us it was 19/6. During your build you will recieve a call from the electrical company and and they will register on your behalf with there supplier - being integral. Bill was $220 - 2 months build and just over 1 month of us in here. We have since moved over to our preferred supplier. Tarsha - start stacking the bricks in a pile out of there way around the back or the side. They won't touch them if they are out of the way and neatly stacked. Don't do it out the front as you will find they will slowly disappear.. Jen - want to see some pics of the planting you have accommplished so far and when the trees are removed. Glad t read about the caravan as well, I was starting to think how would you bring all of those plants back and the kids... Mother in law offered me yesterday her 2 large cycads, thinking I will take her up on the offer and incorporate them in the front landscaping design. We specified grain on kitchen and bathroom, some designs can change the look dramatically when the grain is the other way. Smorgzz -nearly there. just think just over 1 more month and no more rental... That will put on a smile on your face.. Looking forward to seeing the pics. Finally agreed upon the travertine not suiting the clean lines we are looking for in the back. Went tile shopping AGAIN and moved to something a little different. The external tile that matches our interior looks a little flat outside, no wow factor. Dh feel in love with this, they will be 600 x 300 to match internally and the lighter grey sections are the same as internally so it should flow through nicely. COLOUR GALENA - the grey series http://www.italgranitigroup.com/dettagl ... search_by= It is a vitrified stone porcelion tile and is more grippy in the wet than pavers and travertine. Need to speak to pool company to agree with them that out tiler will do the coping for the pool. Still not 100% but trying to convince myself at this stage Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1130Oct 11, 2012 10:21 pm Typed all of this and it timed out, hit the back button and it was all still there!!! Smorgzzz more awesome progress! how random is this? We have a bit of concrete for our hot water tank but we don't actually get a tank because we are on recycled water SS said he can get rid of it lol how did we miss that?? As far as the bricks go do you guys think I need to ring the SS to check if we can go and stack them all to keep them.. not sure how he'd feel about us going in lol thanks for the advice though guys Love hearing about everyones colour selections Our 'complimentaries' (which I'm pretty sure is more or Rawson just been better than everyone else and not charging through the nose for easy things) were switching the dishwasher and microwave gaps, putting the water point above the fridge behind the wine rack to be able to push the fridge all the way back, Our living sensations package as sign up incentive (aircon, extended alfresco- 6x3m, stone to kitchen etc) moving a void in the WIR for the air con dropper and moving the one in the WC as well, bigger fridge gap, colourbond (we were quoted $12K with another company for colourbond!!) adding a wall to close of the walk in from the ensuite, deleting the door from bed 3 to the bathroom and relocating the wardrobe away from the bedroom door. And moving the gas point, moving the window in main bedroom and of course most recently changing our bricks the day before they were laid (not rawsons fault at all and very unusual circumstances) Wow I forgot how many little changes we had lol Jen our dog loves ice!! he chases it around like its a play toy and then munches on it lol its hilarious! Mitred edges? I tell you what you guys make me do my research lol although I think I'll be happy with either way.. I wonder what would be standard? Duessel I had a browse on your blog looks great! Kitchen looks amazing!! the benham staircase lights are a bugger ($187 each with our however don't quote me because it could have changed) but they just look so good!! We didn't get a price list sent to us because we did ours a weird way (which I kind of regret) As for outdoor facade not sure how they work it with your facade (we couldnt get a light on one of the pillars because they dont do it even though its on the display..) but we just got the light points put there on junction boxes ($70 each again could have changed) bigted is the downlight wiring only different to have a normal light point there? The rise I love those tiles! I love grey tones I'm not sure why though lol less cleaning? Thanks for the tip on the bricks.. I'll have to try and find somewhere.. Been on a corner block there isn't much of our yard that is hidden from the street at current lol PS: Off to Bali on Wednesday next week guys so you'll have to put lots up here so I can stay up dated and not feel like I'm missing too much of my own build haha (hopefully we will come back to a roof and all of that!) My very first blog http://benham33.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1131Oct 11, 2012 10:22 pm wow big message sorry guys My very first blog http://benham33.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1132Oct 12, 2012 3:24 pm Hi Everyone, My Husband and I are at pre-tender stage looking to build a modified Cammeray 36 (extended alfresco, convert lounge to guest bed with ensuite) with Rawson. So far have found the sales people at Hunter Homeworld amazing. But not really looking forward to this next stage - from reading this forum and what I have heard from others RH admin stage is a little slow... Anyway will try very hard to be paitent! Reading this post has been a great help - have already picked up a few ideas that I wouldn't have been able to think of myself - thanks everyone. I'll keep posting with our progress Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1133Oct 12, 2012 4:19 pm Sullivan where are you building. There are a couple of us who went through Paul at Chisholm. Tarsha is near maitland and BigTed is in Newcastle. I am Port Stephens. We have modified our fernside. We enclosed the alfresco and made it part of the house and added the alfresco again on again. Now makes the house 43 sq and 27m long. R admin is slow, and it is a lesson in being patient. Paul will tell you that this is the worst part, but apart from a few frustrations it has not been too bad (despite my whinging) I have just found you have to keep on top of your CSO and make sure they keep to the times they give you or it will blow out. Modified Fernside 38 Rawson Homes Blog: http://www.thehousethatmatandjenbuilt.blogspot.com Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=60501 Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1134Oct 12, 2012 6:33 pm Hello Everyone @ Jen: Your plants look great. @ Rise: Thanks for sharing your electricity bill. $220 is fine. Ours is double storey house, I hope the bill will turnout reasonable. Love your tiles. Have you used similar tiles indoor. @Deussel: Your kitchen drawings look great. I like your cook top with fish burner. May I ask the specific purpose of fish burner. @ Tarsha: Have a great holiday. @ Smorgzzz: Have you started packing. Can't wait to get there. @Bigted: Thanks for electrical prices. We have internal colours on Tuesday. This weekend will be looking at more display homes Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1135Oct 12, 2012 10:47 pm Hi Jen, We are building in Lake Macquarie. Its nice to know there are a few of us from the Hunter building with RH! Kate is our sales rep but Paul did give us the low down on the admin phase likening the whole process to a roller-coaster ride. I guess we are now prepared for what ****** ahead...Thanks for the tip re:CSO I'll make sure we do that. Keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't take too much longer to get our tender back - we just want to get started. Just wondering to we need to out changes like extra water (i.e to fridge) or gas (alfresco) at tender stage or is that the type of detail we leave for colours? We were also thinking of adding cedar panelling to alfresco. I noticed in the thread that the cost of some products seems to have been better for some of you at colours? Trying to work out what we should do? Any tips would be appreciated! Sully Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1136Oct 13, 2012 8:06 am Sullivan, we are building in Cameron Park so maybe neighbours? You only need to specify structural changes at tender stage - leave the aesthetics til colours so the experts can help you out & you can consider the cost of everything all together. Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1137Oct 14, 2012 2:31 pm Sullivan from reading this forum and what I have heard from others RH admin stage is a little slow... Hello, welcome! I shouldn't mention how long we've been waiting for our quite-modified design to come back from tender, it might scare you off. It doesn't seem just limited to Rawson though, I noticed one of the high-ups in Wisdom Homes started a thread (dunno if it's died yet) a few weeks ago & the comments I were reading in there were exactly the same as I've seen/experienced with Rawson. It's really just a matter of expectation; it doesn't bother me, now I know to double every timing-estimate we're given. Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1138Oct 14, 2012 3:57 pm Hi everyone, It looks like most of you have something positive post which is great to hear! Unforntunatley for us, our approval did not come through. The certifier now requires a BAL certificate and road opening permit prior to issuing our approval. We have been told next week, but we will wait and see. Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1139Oct 14, 2012 4:35 pm I think too that the delays are not unique to Rawson, Forg, I agree with you. Everyone: Just read some Wisdom or Masterton threads or go to productreview australia and see about complaints re builders. I have to admit I am surprised and frustrated by all the Rawson delays, considering we signed the tender on June 15th (and yes, I do know there are others here who have waited much longer to get things going) my guess is that due to all the advertising and the government stopping the stamp duty exemption at the end of June this year none of the builders were prepared with the enormous influx of sales and enquiries. I have my own business and I know that when you spend a bit of time developing and getting the marketing right whilst consistently improving and maintaining on things like customer service standards and quality assurance; when all of a sudden sales pick up substantially (we just had the busiest September in 4 years) and since July we're up 20% compared to last year, one can kind of freak out a bit and then hire more staff. The issue is that other builders are doing the same, so not only do you have to find the right staff, you also have to train them and get them up to speed as to how you want things done. On top of that you need to implement better, more efficient or even new systems to cope with the work, ensuring accuracy and the same speed as before. Juggling all of that can be really difficult for any business owner, including the 3 brothers who run Rawson. One of the things where most businesses in Australia fall down is how to effectively and timely communicate with their customers. When I read this blog and I read Jen's comments about emailing and phoning head office and not getting a reply as well as comments from others about 'the need to chase Admin. staff to get things done more quickly' that sort of thing is just inexcuseable in my opinion. Unless the CSO has had an emergency or is dead, they should be communicating same day or next day. Period. Just my opinion. Having said that, all the CSO's are reporting to their boss and if Rawson or any other builder is openly publicising a timeline in their literature as to what they expect to happen in what timeline, they should stick to it. Sure, there are exceptions, however the vast majority of projects should be completed in that timeframe. AND, if there IS a huge flow on from promotions/sales and not enough staff, that SHOULD be communicated via every CSO or via an open letter/email to all customers from the people in charge. It is stressful enough finding the land, organising finance and trying to pick a builder or a house, making changes and trying to understand the whole process, especially if you are going through it for the very first time like us, the last thing one wants is having to endlessly follow up admin staff BEFORE you even start to build. I stand by what I have said all along though, we are extremely happy with having picked Rawson over other builders and two of the main reasons are the fixed price guarantee and no one on this forum has (whilst I have been on) had any major complaints about the workmanship. I think we will end up with an incredibly good looking, quality Benham 29 and I hope Christine, our new CSO is on the ball, getting the changes approved by The Ponds Committee and subsequently Blacktown Council and allocating a capabable, good communicating site supervisor for our build. We can't wait to heap more praise onto Rawson because we have seen how good they CAN be with pricing and efficiency. I wish everyone on here, a speedy or speedier process.....there, that's my thoughts for a Sunday. Happy Holidays, Tarsha! Smorgzzz, we wish our home was as nearly finished as yours. BigTed: Thank you so much for those numbers. I never considered extra circuits etc. OMG. Building The Benham 29 in The Ponds With Rawson Homes http://buildingwithrawson.blogspot.com.au/ Site Start 13/2/13 Handover 7/8/13 Re: Our Benham 33 journey 1140Oct 14, 2012 7:47 pm Back from holidays. I swear I am more tired than when I went in the first place. I think I need to go on holidays again, but this time without the kids Forg - you have the patience of a saint! Duesseldorf - That is the one thing that annoys me - lack of communication. Even if you reply to my email to say you cant do anything until X day I will be happy. To not reply at all, that stresses me out. Tarsha - have a great holiday! We met the tree man at the block this morning. We have a plan for all the site works that he is going to do. Rawson was only going to cut and fill where the house was going to go and that would have been a 700 cut into the garage and along the garage, and 700 fill at the back of the house. They only do directly around the house, which would have been a bit iffy getting in the garage and for drainage, plus a decent drop off the side of the house. With us doing it before site works with Rawson start, we will be able to make a gentle slope and scrape out where all the old gardens were. Trees are going down and then leveling on the block. Should take about 4 - 5 days. Work starts tomorrow, I am glad that I am home from work and I can watch them come down. There are at least 12 large trees that need to come down. The biggest tree is over a metre in diameter and 20 metres tall. The tree guy assures me that the trees come down with a bit of a push and it is quite easy when you have a 40 tonne excavator. I will post some photos tomorrow as I am sure the block will look drastically different. Modified Fernside 38 Rawson Homes Blog: http://www.thehousethatmatandjenbuilt.blogspot.com Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=60501 Any advice on how to ensure the kit home granny flat that im thinking of buying will get council approval. The kit home companys wont release plans without a deposit and… 0 7768 of course there are legal avenues. You've already mentioned it. Sue them. I find it odd that lawyers wouldnt be willing to take on the case, given CCT evidence and… 1 24503 "Losers" "humanity" "off time" "your" "top notch" "love symbol" Sounds like ponzo is done using other people's toilets 36 25085 |